For runners, a headlamp with stretchable cordage to wear around the head keeps the unit light and comfortable.
DOGS love to chase cyclists.
A 2019 worldwide poll on Facebook revealed that almost 80% of cyclists around the world admitted that they had been chased by dogs while cycling.
And if you are cycling at night, here is a sure-fire way to stop dogs from chasing you: wear a headlamp.
Many people go out for a quick evening ride after work for exercise or just to unwind.
Better light means more powerful batteries. From left are the 21700 and 18650 size rechargeable batteries compared with a typical AA size disposable battery.
After dark, traffic around residential areas peter out so it is safer to pedal, not to mention that it is cooler to ride after sundown. But that is when the neighbourhood dogs come out too.
Dogs have spectacular night vision, but the downside is that they become temporarily blinded easily when they look at a bright light source in the dark.
Thus, when a dog barks or comes within view while you are cycling in the dark, turn and look at it while wearing your headlamp.
Instantly, the dog will not be able to see you anymore; the basic laws of optics just will not allow the dog to see you when your headlamp is shining at it.
Headlamps that come with two LED bulbs usually have one that gives off a wide floodlight and another that emits a concentrated narrow beam. Modes where both bulbs are turned on provide maximum lighting.There is also the possibility that canines will equate the bright light with that of the headlamps of an oncoming car or motorcycle, which they know not to go head-on against.
By extension, this advantage means a headlamp allows cyclists to illuminate objects to the left, right and even above them while cycling at night, something a handlebar light just cannot do.
Besides cyclists, headlamps are essential tools for campers, hikers, cave-explorers, almost anyone doing anything outside after dark simply because two free hands are better than one.
Holding a torchlight takes one hand out of the action, a disadvantage that campers puttering about at camp will empathetically understand, not to mention cave explorers who need the use of both hands almost every step of the way.
But there is no one headlamp for every occasion, and the limiting factors are the headlamps’ power, battery life, weight and resistance against the elements.
The general rule is this: the brighter the headlamp, the larger it will be, the heavier the battery will be, and the more unwieldy it will be.
If you need the headlamp to be waterproof and shockproof, then the unit’s housing must be much more robust, making the weight and size a potential problem as well.
But if you are a search-and-rescue professional, or if you are entering the jungle on foot and your carry-weight quota only lets you carry one light source, then a large, powerful headlamp with a long-life battery is what you need.
Should you go camping, assuming that you have the necessary general light sources fixed up at camp, wearing a headlamp with thousands of lumens (a measurement of brightness) might be considered overkill, so a headlamp of 200 to 600 lumens should suffice as your personal move-about light.
Headlamps with a red light mode are great for those doing near-hand work in the dark because it will not cancel out your night vision or disturb nocturnal wildlife, since many animals do not perceive the colour red.
Oh yes, be mindful of the angle of your headlamp at camp because if a camp mate calls to you and you turn to the fellow with your headlamp turned on at full blast, you will be shouted at and your friend will be momentarily blinded.
If the headlamp’s resistances against water, shock and dust are crucial to your needs, buy from a reputable seller instead of being taken with cheap deals online because such features require sterling manufacturing and engineering standards.Conserve battery life by activating the top brightness setting only when required.
If your night activity involves much near hand work, look for a headlamp with a red light feature to let your see near distances without sacrificing your night vision or disturbing nocturnal wildlife.
Some headlamps let you use disposable alkaline batteries. If you do that, check the battery compartment regularly because alkaline batteries do leak when left in such devices long term unused.
Choosing the right headlamp and understanding how to use it effectively can significantly enhance your outdoor experience.
Embrace the convenience and safety a headlamp offers, and let it illuminate your adventures confidently and clearly.
